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Irish Mirror

National

Shauna Bannon Ward

The five social welfare payments set for €500 boost and how you could qualify for them under new rules

Disability Department of Social Protection Ireland Met Eireann

The Budget was announced earlier this week with a raft of social welfare increases included in the multi-billion Euro package from the Government.

All recipients will receive a weekly boost but some are in line for a number of €500 lump sum boosts with expanded criteria meaning more people qualify than ever before.

These people may not know they are missing out on supports to help them navigate the cost of living crisis and are being urged to check if they now qualify.

It was confirmed that the Working Family Payment will get a one-off €500 boost in November. People receiving Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and the Blind Pension will also be given a €500 payment in two months time.

Those that qualify for the Carer's Support Grant will also be among those receiving this cash boost.

In addition to these welfare benefits, there will be a once-off double-week Halloween Bonus in October for those on a weekly social welfare payment.

The usual double-week Christmas Bonus will be sent out to jobseekers, carers, pensioners and those receiving disability benefits at the beginning of December.

Additionally, people that qualify for the Living Alone Allowance will get an added €200 before the Christmas holiday.

Here is how to know if you are eligible for the €500 cash boost:

Working Family Payment

The Working Family Payment is a weekly tax-free payment for employees with children who are on low pay.

People must be an employee to get this payment, but you cannot get it if you are self-employed only.

Your average weekly family income must be under a certain amount for your family size.

The aim of the Working Family Payment is to provide 60% of the difference between your average weekly family income and its income limit for your family size.

You can find out more about the payment here.

Disability Allowance

Disability Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability which people can get from 16 years of age.

You can qualify for the payment if you meet these criteria:

Have an injury, disease or physical or mental disability that has continued for at least one year or is expected to continue for at least one year
Be substantially restricted because of your disability from doing work that would be suitable for a person of your age, experience and qualifications
Be aged between 16 and 66.
Pass a means test – a means test looks at any income that you have – see ‘How your income is assessed for DA’ below
Live in Ireland and meet the habitual residence condition.

You can find out more about the payment here.

Invalidity Pension

Invalidity Pension is a weekly payment for people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability and are covered by social insurance

To get this payment you must meet two different criteria, the first is:

260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions
48 weeks of paid or credited PRSI contributions in the last or second last completed year before the start date of your permanent incapacity for work. The start date is decided by the Department of Social Protection (DSP). It is usually after you have been unable to work for one year. But it can be less than one year if you are permanently incapable of work for life.

There are also medical rule to consider to be eligible:

Have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months (you may have been getting Illness Benefit or Disability Allowance during that time) Or

Be permanently incapable of work (in certain cases of very serious illness or disability, you can transfer directly from another social welfare payment or from your job to Invalidity Pension).

You can find out more about the payment here.

Blind Pension

The Blind Pension is a means-tested payment paid to those that are blind and visually impaired people and who are habitually resident in Ireland.

These are the areas that are considered as means:

Any cash income that you or your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant may have (including income from employment)
The value of savings, investments, shares, land etc.
Any property you may have
Maintenance paid to you if you are deserted, separated or a civil partner not living with the other civil partner.

You can find out more about the payment here.

Carer's Support Grant

The Carer’s Support Grant is paid to carers once a year by the Department of Social Protection and was formerly known as the Respite Care Grant.

You are automatically paid the grant if you are getting Carer’s Allowance (both full rate and half-rate), Carer’s Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance.

However, you can still qualify if you do not meet these criteria.

You can find out more about the payment here.

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